Christmas Ribbons

This quilt pattern is from the book Scrap-Basket Surprises and is called Christmas Ribbons. Since I'm using batiks and not Christmas fabrics, I will need to call it something else. Party Ribbons and Celebration Ribbons perhaps. Anyways just found out that an out of state niece is having a baby girl and her shower in our state is in three weeks. I had already started this one, so it will have to be her baby's gift. I have the blocks partially done and should have them finished and in rows by the end of this coming week. Then I can get it layered and quilted the following week. Thank goodness it was already in the works. LOL

Scrappy w/ 3 cuts

Here are the instructions for the block I picked up info on yesterday. Start with assorted dark fabric squares 8.5 square. Make a cut 3.5 x 8" and the second cut 5.5 square leaving a strip 3.5 x 5.5. Sew them together so that you have a different fabric in each segment. Do the same with assorted light fabric squares.

Second step is to put a lt and dk assembled square right sides together, making sure the 5.5 squares are together. Draw a line diagonally across the light square, and sew 1/4" on each side of line. Cut on the drawn line, and you will have 2 half square triangles. One side darks and the other side lights. Assemble as desired. The quilt at the shop was assembled in such a way that there were light and dark diagonal strips.



This would be a great way to use up your stash.

One Block Wonder

Some friends and I have been discussing stack and slash quilting. Another variation of it is the One Block Wonder which I fell in love with. One block wonder is the name of the book and you do the whole quilt with just one piece of fabric. I decided to use that technique for a jacket that I made from a sweatshirt. Once you do this technique, you really look at fabric differently.

When trying this technique you need fabric with images close together, you don't want a lot of background. You end up with hexagon shapes as you can see from the pics, but when assembling you are doing it in columns so it is all straight stitching. I fell in love with this technique and have acquired some fabric that will go perfectly for it. I'm thinking of possibly making place mats and table runners from it. One of the things I like best is the surprise you get as each hex is formed.

If you ever get a chance to view the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, do it. Saw the one in DC years ago, and was as moved by this as I was then. So many names, so many lives. Don't know if I know anyone on the wall, but it is quite possible that some old schoolmates are on it. Even though it is a replica, those viewing it were as silent as those at the DC monument. While you are looking at the names of those that gave all, you are also seeing yourself.

I once saw a picture of the memorial, or should I say graphic, of a man and his grandson at the wall. The man had his hand touching the wall, and in the wall you saw a soldier who would have been the son/father of the two. Even thinking about it gives me chills.

The crazy quilt style was a small quilt that I did for my youngest granddaughter, Sarah. I did it by the stack and slice method. The border fabric is dolphins in many different colors. I used the fancy stitches on my machine to stitch along all the lines as my method of quilting that one.

The red, white & blue quilt was a mystery quilt from a magazine. I gave it to Sarah's brother Steven. I'll have to do a mystery quilt again in the future, they are a lot of fun.

I hate summer

I hate the hot humid days of summer. Unlike most people, I very seldom complain about winter. Spring and Fall are my favorites.

This kind of weather makes it hard to do hand piecing. The thimble gets really tight when it is like this. Looking forward to weather in the 80's next week.

This picture is a piece that I did from a design my daughter did for a college design class. I gave it to her for Christmas 2007 and she and her partner got it framed and hung it in her home. I really liked the lines of the design.

The picture in my heading is my beloved Taz. We lost him New Year's Day 2000. I often called him Tazman.